Vehicle-brake.



No. 670,666. y PATENTBD Nov. 12, l190'?.

DE WITT GOOKINGHAM.

VEHICLE BRAKE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23, 1906.

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UNITED STATES `PATENT oEEICE.

DE WITT'COOKINGHAM, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN H.

' HERTNER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO VEHICLE-:BRAKE Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented Nov. 12, 1907.

Application led Juna 1906- Slltl N0. 323 023| To all whom it 'may concern: l

Be it known that l, vDEYWITT COOKINGHAM, a citizen cf the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the eoniity of Cuyahoga and State lof Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Vehicle-Brakes,

. of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved brake for vehicles, and'particularly relates to cert-.iin details of construction'to be hereinafter pointed ont.

Iii that type of brake, commonly used on automobiles` in which the brake frame is rigidly attached to thewheel and isof a box-like structure inclosing pivoted iiiciial brake shoes which are supported by a plate or part fixed 1o ilieifehicle fiume, it has been found that an important. problem is presented in the endeavor to secure adjust ability to take up we-.ir on the brake shoes. It is of course. obvious, that the wear must be taken up in some manner; otherwise, the shoes will cease to operate; and it has been a coniiiion thing to mount a pair of uren-.il shoes oii pivots fixed on a supporting plate and spread the shoes apart by a rotary cani interposed between lheni at their free ends. As'such shoes wear, the operator depends iipon'turning the cam somewhat further than before, so as to force them -into operative engageineui with ihe brake frame. This arrangement is -iiiiilesii-nble. for the reason that cams constructed to take up such wear, are not, before such wear takes place, cap-.ible of being turned quite far enough to seenre lhe desired wedging leverage. Consequently, it has been sought to secure the adjustment for taking up wear nl the pivoted end of lhe brake shoes, and fiiriibueh-les .have been provided for this purpose. But willi iurnbuckles, and all the structures heretofore known lo t he iirt for accomplishing this result, it is necess-.iry lo dismantle the brake frame in order to effect the -adjustment 'lhe undesirability of this, of course, is

obvious, since it might well happen that it would become iiecifssiiry to tighten up the brake at a time and under conditions where it might not be possible to disni-.iiiile the brake friiine.

l have devised a structure whereby the brake shoes may be adjusted to a proper fit without dismantling the brake frame, and furthermore, I have accomplished iliis in such manner that the brake frame may retain its gharacter of a closed box and thus be dust and waterproof, which characteristic is of the highest importance, as is well known to those acquainted with the practical operation of such devices. l

i Referring to the accompanying dia-wings, which illustrate an embodiment of my invention, Figui-el repv resents a vertical section of a brake in which my device is used, the section being taken along linel-l of Fig.

2. Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the Samet-aken along pose of effecting the desired adjustment.

the line 2-2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a side view, partlyin section, of one of the adjustable eye pins to which the brake shoes are pivoted. Fig. 4 is a face view of the same. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the spreading head, or cam, used to spread the brake shoes apart. Fig. 6 is a view of the 'saine at right angles to Fig. 5, partly broken away.

In the various figures it will be seen that the brake frame A is a box-lilte structure rigidly connected with the hub A of the wheel. This frame incloses a pair of arenal brake shoes B B suitably pivoted to eye pins C C, which pins in tui-n, are slidably mounted in a boss C projecting from a supporting plate D which is carried by and rigidly connected with a vehicle frame D Each of the shoes has a longitudinal channel B formed by webs l5'2 projecting from the interior side thereof. Positioning lugs D2 D'- fixed to the supporting plate, project into there channels and hold the brake shoes in ,aliiieinent A pair of tension springs B3 B3 secured near opposite endsof the shoes, tend to draw them together. interposed between the free ends ofthe shoes, is a spreading head or cam E mounted in the usual man# ner and under the control of the driver.

lho pivoted end of the shoes will, under the tension these eye pins will of course be drawn toward each other until they abut, unless some other object intervenes. l3nt, it will be seen by referring to Fig. l, that these eye pins have interposed between them, a cone (l2, which is adjustable by reason of having a screwthreaded stein C, extending through the supporting plate D so that it may be moved in or out, and thus regulate the distance of separation for the two pins. 'lhe inner ends of the pins are beveled so as to afford a proper bearing surface for the adjusting cone. f

,lt will he seen that this structure provides means whereby the pivoted ends of the shoes iii-ay be allowed to approach each other until the eye pins C (l come in contact, and thus permit the spreading cam E to be so constructed that it can turn to the wedging 4point and afford means whereby the brake shoes may be adjusted after wear without depending upon the spreading cam to take up such wear. And it will be further noted that this adjustment is under immediate and ready control and' capable of being manipulated Without disinantliiig the brake frame or disturbing it in any manner; and furthermore, this is accomplished in a Way' which permits the brake frame to be dust and waterproof since'iio open parts and"no communications are necessary between the exterior and interior for the pur- A further improvement in connection with my brake resides in ,the spreading cam itself. As seen in Figs.

2, 5 and', thisV cam consists of a cylindrical head E having a transverse slot E with a plate E2 interposed in said slot. I secure this plate Es against accidental movement out of the slot E by means oi a pin 1E'q running through the head and the plate; but it will be seen in Fig. 6 that I have provided the plate E2 with an elongated opening E4 through which Athe pin passes thereby allowing the plate to have a certain amount of lateral movement.

I have been led to design this structure by reason of the fact that in the cams heretofore used in this type` gagem'ent with the brake frame, it is evident that, if

the opposite cam does not simultaneously force' the second shoe into full engagement with the brake frame,'

the Areaction of the thrust must be borne entirely by the bearings. o the spreading head or cam itself, which tends to Wear the same and is undesirable for many reasons, among others7 increasing the liability4 ot breakage. I

In the form which I havedevised, it is insured that both brake shoes shall be in full engagement with the brake frame at all times when .the spreading cam is turned, since the ends oi' the shiftable plate form the surfaces which spread the shoes apart and the reaction of thet'hrust against either shoe must be received 'and borne by the opposite shoe, and consequently simulerases i taneous action of the shoes is secured, and this is done Without strain to the bearings of the spreading l head itself.

It is evident that some modifications can be made in the detail structure oi the device as described, and I therefore desire it to be understood that I regard my invention as being directed to the broad idea expressed v in the preceding specification and the following claims.

Having described my invention, 'l claim:

1` In a vehicle brake, ai brake frame and brake shoes which the said shoes are pivotally supported. moans for forcing the shoes into engagement with the brake frame. said shoes being wholly incased, and means accessible from the exterior of the incasing structure :ulnpled lo move the shoes toward the brake frame at tho pirolal points.

2. In :rvehicle brakes brake frame and a plate forming.;l n closed casing, brake shoes pivotally mounted so :1s lo lu` carried by the supporting plate and inclosed within ibo casing, und means accessible from the exterior ot' tho cus frame at their pivotal points.

3. .In :1 vehicle brake, a brake frame and brn'k(` shoes. and means adapted to force said shoes inlo ena-agement with the brake frame comprising a member slidably mouuiA od on .-x rotatable head lund positioned to transmit thrust to each shoe upon rotation of said head, the rem-tion from each shoe being transmitted to the other shoe.

4. in u vehicle brake, a brake frame inclosin.;r two brakes pivotally supported and adapted to engage the tranne when forced apart, menus for forcing ilu-m apart comprising a rotatable head having a bar slidablymounted thereon, and positioned to engage said shoes upon rotation of the said head.

In testimony whereof, -I hereunto affix my signature in the presence nt' tu'o witnesses.

DE WITT iOOlUNlllAM.

Witnesses J. M. Woonwauo, E. B. Gincnuis'l.

adapted to frictionally engage said frame. :1. member oul ins,r adapted to advance the bruke shoes toward the lu'nlo- 

